Omega European Masters 2013: Veteran Stars You Can Count on at Swiss Tournament

One of the more glamorous stops along the European Tour, this weekend’s action comes from Switzerland’s Crans-Sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Staged in an idyllic alpine setting, the Omega European Masters calls together stars of all ages and origins during one of the few remaining legs that actually takes place in Europe.

For now, it’s the seasoned veterans that draw the focus, and there are a few golden oldies who promise to throw their hat into the mix come Sunday’s finale.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Having won the event in 2010, it’s no surprise to see 49-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez back among the front-runners to emerge as European Masters victor again this year.

The Spaniard is enjoying an impressive 2013 season despite having yet to win a championship, but recording several commendable finishes nonetheless.

The most notable of these have been two fourth-place finishes, the most recent of which was at the Bridgestone Invitational, helping Jimenez to his current European ranking of 28th.

Though Jimenez is forever capable of getting off to a good start, his inconsistency throughout a competition has proven the veteran’s undoing at times in recent months, something the cigar-toting Jimenez will look to correct this weekend.

Paul Lawrie

Pitched just above Harrington in the European Tour rankings at 55th sits Paul Lawrie, who’s managed to take a prize pot of €10,000 or more from six of his last eight events.

This has included some impressive showings at the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the Bridgestone Invitational where the Scotsman tied for 32nd, 26th and 27th, respectively.

The 44-year-old is clearly enjoying his stay and tweeted this picture of his surroundings in preparation for Thursday's start:

Now, Lawrie need only improve upon that consistency with just the slightest sprinkle of flair in order to turn things in his favour during his trip to Switzerland.

Padraig Harrington

Like Jimenez, Padraig Harrington is yet to win a competition in 2013, but has also shown the potential to break that drought at times.

While the Irishman is by no means the force he was five or six years ago, Harrington has managed to pull off a few top-10 finishes this year and has put himself within shouting distance at some of the Tour’s events.

With Harrington currently 60th in the standings, William Hill are offering odds of 50-1 on the 42-year-old to win his first event since 2008.

Harrington has all of the talent in his locker to revive a golfing power that at one point looked likely to tip more majors in his favour; it seems only a question of whether he's mentally ready to.